What am I looking for? L-7? L-48? (Gibson Archtop advice)

[ThatRhythmMan]

Keep in mind that Pete Biltoft has completely retired from making pickups. Also, even his thinnest is too thick for the non-cantilever L-50 if you want the pickup anywhere remotely close to the neck.


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[scout_3]

Keep in mind that Pete Biltoft has completely retired from making pickups. Also, even his thinnest is too thick for the non-cantilever L-50 if you want the pickup anywhere remotely close to the neck.

Thanks, I've since found that out from a forum member.

I see. It would have to be the same thing as that bastardized L-50 with the middle P-90.

[Mick-7]

Maybe? - Vintage Henry L. Mason Archtop Acoustic Guitar | ShopGoodwill.com

Looks really good for a 90 year old guitar, perhaps Mr. Rhythm Man can give us his appraisal of it. Good Will is always a bit of a crap shoot but all my purchases from them have worked out well.

[scout_3]

Appreciate it, Mick, but I'm in Europe. This type of deal would be quite hard to put together. I have to resort to either ebay or reverb.

Maybe? - Vintage Henry L. Mason Archtop Acoustic Guitar | ShopGoodwill.com

Looks really good for a 90 year old guitar, perhaps Mr. Rhythm Man can give us his appraisal of it. Good Will is always a bit of a crap shoot but all my purchases from them have worked out well.

[Mick-7]

Appreciate it, Mick, but I'm in Europe. This type of deal would be quite hard to put together. I have to resort to either ebay or reverb.

Yeah, sorry, I just saw that you're not in the U.S.... however, knowing that not all Gibson guitars say Gibson on the headstock does increase your options -- The Other Brands of Gibson – Elderly Instruments

Brands Included:

• Ambassador
• Andy Sanella
• B&S Barrington
• Capital
• Carson Robison
• Charles Mcneil
• Cromwell
• Fascinator
• Francis, Day & Hunter (FDH)
• Grinnell
• Hayden
• Hayden
• Henry L. Mason
• Kalamazoo
• Kel Kroydon
• Liberty
• Marshall Special
• Martelle
• Mastertone Special
• Mitchell Bros.
• Montgomery Ward
• National
• Old Kraftsman
• Oriole
• Paynes
• Ray Whitley
• Recording King
• Reznick Radio
• Roy Smeck
• S.S. Stewart
• Studio King
• Tex Star
• Tone Crest
• Truett
• Trujo
• Wards
• Washburn
• Werlein Leader

[scout_3]

I appreciate it all the same. Indeed, I've had a few of those over the years (Kel Kroydon, Kalamazoo, National, all kinds of Gibson made Epiphones, etc.). I must admit I'd like this one to have the block logo. I'm down to nothing but Gibsons, just 2 of them now, and I'd like all 3 to be first degree cousins.

Yeah, sorry, I just saw that you're not in the U.S.... knowing that not all Gibson guitars say Gibson on the headstock does increase your options though -- The Other Brands of Gibson – Elderly Instruments

[ThatRhythmMan]

Maybe? - Vintage Henry L. Mason Archtop Acoustic Guitar | ShopGoodwill.com

Looks really good for a 90 year old guitar, perhaps Mr. Rhythm Man can give us his appraisal of it. Good Will is always a bit of a crap shoot but all my purchases from them have worked out well.

The Henry L. Mason guitars were made by Gibson for Coastal Music in California which means this guitar being in southern California quite likely has been in that area ever since arriving there from Kalamazoo. They are basically much like the Cromwell, Kalamazoo, Recording King, etc. guitars made during the depression era by Gibson to be retailed under other names.

Without digging I’m not sure exactly which model that one is. Most have solid pressed tops, but some are carved. It could be a nice 16” archtop, but hard to say from the pics.


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[213Cobra]

To whet your appetite.

1944 L-7 (Left), 1954 L-50 (Right).

Phil

[garybaldy]

To whet your appetite.

1944 L-7 (Left), 1954 L-50 (Right).

Phil

Lovely pic.
Why does the L7 have dot fretboard markers?

[213Cobra]

Lovely pic.
Why does the L7 have dot fretboard markers?

Wartime production, afaik. Also note the rosewood string retaining crossbar on the tailpiece instead of metal. Same reason. -Phil

[58flame]

Save your money and get an L7.

[garybaldy]

Save your money and get an L7.

I agree and did - twice!

[58flame]

Greetings everyone,

I've owned a 1930s Epiphone Zenith for a couple of decades now, and while I'm very pleased with its sound and reliability throughout the years, I must admit that being 1.90 m makes that narrow nut get old very fast. I'm just tired of having to constantly adapt to that toothpick and I'd like to get something by Gibson, as I'm quite used to my early 50s Gibson jumbos and their very comfortable necks, that hopefully maintains what's great about the Epi, but also improves in other areas.

I play mostly early folk, not quite jazz, the Epi is great for that and it has a very nice old timey deep acoustic tone. So I guess I'm looking for a solid carved spruce top with longitudinal tone bar bracing, such as the Epi. I could use a chunkier tone, though, and for that I know I have to probably get into the 17" ones. But I'd really like for it to be short scale, similar to what I have on the acoustic Gibsons, although I don't think that combination exists. I don't mind if it has an old pickup, as I really like that and can use the chunky jazz tone for all sorts of things. I've been eyeing ES150s for a while because I like the look of it, but I don't think those even have bracing...For what it's worth, the Epi with various Dearmonds, including a Rhythm Chief, never really got the electric jazzy tone I'm also after.

I don't need embellishments or fancy parallelograms, a base model is absolutely fine, and cutaways are strictly forbidden. My focus here is tone, comfort and something that stays around the realm of what my Epi is worth nowadays (3k, give or take).

Any pointers would be very much appreciated. Thanks!

Here's a nice video Chuck made a while back illustrating the different sounds of the pre war L7 guitars.

Pre-war Gibson L7 Shootout

[scout_3]

I'll take the '54 off your hands if you want. Got a very nice Epi here to trade for it, I'm sure you're tired of Gibsons by now!

The L7 would just make imposter syndrome kick in.

To whet your appetite.

1944 L-7 (Left), 1954 L-50 (Right).

Phil

[scout_3]

Just wanted to say thanks everyone for their input. As far as solid tops are concerned, I figure I narrowed it down to an L-50.

One last question, if anyone has an answer: will close serials of an L-48 sound similar/close acoustically to an ES-150? Mahogany top aside, it seems both are laminate and the bracing is similar.

Thanks again.